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Original poster

Has any one ever had to get an emergency travel document to fly?

27 replies

motheroflions · 18/12/2021 20:36

My passport hasnt arrived and was supposed to be here Wednesday. Spoke to the help line today and they couldnt even find me on the system Shock i have had a text on monday saying it would be here in a few days but thats been and gone.

I have been told to ring back on monday monrning.

Has any one ever had to have an emergency travel document due to no passport before? We fly out Wednesday.

Thanks

OP posts:
santaclothes · 18/12/2021 20:40

I thought they were to help you get back to the UK? It sounds like you are just going on holiday?

Original poster
motheroflions · 18/12/2021 20:43

@santaclothes

I thought they were to help you get back to the UK? It sounds like you are just going on holiday?
You can get one if your going on holiday
OP posts:
SleighbellsZ · 18/12/2021 20:44

Never heard of one for holiday, as pp just to get back home should something happen to passport abroad

namechange30455 · 18/12/2021 20:46

You can only get one if you're outside the UK.

You failing to renew your passport on time does not constitute an emergency.

nandaandm · 18/12/2021 20:48

I'm sure you can track it with the barcode reference on the courier's website. I had the same problem last month.
www.tnt.com/campaign/en_gb/hmpo.html

nandaandm · 18/12/2021 20:51

[quote nandaandm]I'm sure you can track it with the barcode reference on the courier's website. I had the same problem last month.
www.tnt.com/campaign/en_gb/hmpo.html[/quote]
Passport application number

santaclothes · 18/12/2021 20:52

You can get one if your going on holiday

Can you?

Hellocatshome · 18/12/2021 20:53

Emergency travel documents are for emergencies. They can be for leaving the UK to another country but that would still be for an emergency reason not a holiday.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 18/12/2021 20:53

It’s normally a repatriation thing to get you back to your home country, I can’t see another country accepting one.

Fleur405 · 18/12/2021 20:58

Yes but I got it at the consulate in Spain so I could get home after my passport was stolen.

Bobbybobbins · 18/12/2021 21:00

My parents did when my grandad had a heart attack abroad but they had to go in person to the passport office and got them that day.

Original poster
motheroflions · 18/12/2021 22:53

[quote nandaandm]I'm sure you can track it with the barcode reference on the courier's website. I had the same problem last month.
www.tnt.com/campaign/en_gb/hmpo.html[/quote]
Thank you, i have never been given a TNT tracking number.

OP posts:
nandaandm · 18/12/2021 23:01

You can use your passport application number

Ulelia · 18/12/2021 23:17

Yes, I got one when my passport was delayed in processing and I was booked to take a school trip abroad. So not repatriation and not really an emergency, but important to my school. There were lots of hoops but they did it, that was ten years ago. Recently a friend got one from in order to dly from the US to the UK and then to the EU country where she lives (two dates on it) as she hadn't renewed her passport in time. I didn't think she'd get one but she did, so worth a try!

worcestersauce29 · 18/12/2021 23:30

@Fleur405

Yes but I got it at the consulate in Spain so I could get home after my passport was stolen.
Same for me, it was a very stressful long weekend!
Original poster
motheroflions · 19/12/2021 09:10

@Ulelia

Yes, I got one when my passport was delayed in processing and I was booked to take a school trip abroad. So not repatriation and not really an emergency, but important to my school. There were lots of hoops but they did it, that was ten years ago. Recently a friend got one from in order to dly from the US to the UK and then to the EU country where she lives (two dates on it) as she hadn't renewed her passport in time. I didn't think she'd get one but she did, so worth a try!
thank you for this!!
OP posts:
Fleemeister · 19/12/2021 09:16

I haven't heard of this but I've known people drive across the country to passport offices in Newport or London to get them on the day. I don't know if that's still possible.

OpalFruits84 · 19/12/2021 10:30

It is correct that emergency travel documents are only issued overseas. I used to work in an embassy and issued them. They are more expensive than passports and can only be used for one return journey, so much better to just get a new passport.

You need to get a fast tracked passport from HMPO if you can.

gingercat02 · 19/12/2021 10:45

My Mum got one 10 years to come home from Spain for my uncle's funeral (she lived in Spain at the time). I would be suprised if you can get one in the middle of a global pandemic to go on holiday, will yo7 be able to do all the Covid travel stuff without a passport number?

CorrBlimeyGG · 19/12/2021 10:53

As above, you can't get an emergency travel document to go on holiday. You may be able to get a fast track appointment for a new passport, assuming you meet the criteria. Ring the passport advice line, they'll tell you what your options are.

AnaVanda · 19/12/2021 11:03

My son had to get an emergency travel document when he lost his passport in Spain. It cost around 100 euros. Once he got it, his passport was cancelled and it was only valid for one flight back to the uk. Once you landed they take it off you at the airport

OpalFruits84 · 19/12/2021 11:08

You can get an emergency travel doc for any reason you like, but they are only issued outside the UK

Original poster
motheroflions · 19/12/2021 15:35

Thanks for the responses.

I have been in contact with them today for the third time. I have to wait for the 'progress department' to call me back. Its so frustrating as you can not be put through to them directly, a lovely sympathetic guy has also flagged it with customer services for Monday.

I was never given a passport application number or a TNT tracking number when i visited the passport agency on the 8th so any one i speak to on the help line cant help me i have to just wait till some one calls me back

The problem is if they have sent out my passport and either royal mail or TNT have it but are delayed they wont issue me another one. ( i dont think)

We fly out Wednesday but i need to take a predepature PCR which needs my passport number for the registration - i am due to take that Monday evening, so if its not here by then we obviously cant go.

I am gutted as I have not had a break from work since April and the thought of flying out to see dd1 was keeping me going.

OP posts:
Original poster
motheroflions · 20/12/2021 13:54

Update*

Spent three hours on the phone this morning being pushed from department to department at the passport office, no one could find me on their system, kept getting put on hold multiple times for over 30 mins, then someone eventually said that my details were not on the system as they get deleted when they pass the passport on the the delivery company. Hmm

Eventually got on to delivery company and they found me straight away. the passport office had given them the wrong post code and they had my passport since last Monday.

Lovely lady said she would call the depot and ask if I could go and collect it - usually that is not allowed.

Then I had a phone call from the passport office a very apologetic man informed me that not only was my post code wrong but also my date of birth so I wouldn't have been able to use it. they were going to get a new one sorted today for me to pick up this afternoon. I need it now as I need to the passport number so I can register for my predeparture PCR.

DH has just admitted to me me he now can't find his passport and has had the house upside down looking for it.

I could cry.

OP posts:
SleighbellsZ · 20/12/2021 15:04

DH has just admitted to me me he now can't find his passport and has had the house upside down looking for it

What an absolute ball ache. Why didn't he just tell you?